Cotton-chopper.



No. 632,470. Patented Sept. 5, I899. W. MGGILLIVRAY.

COTTON CHOPPER.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

(N0 Model.)

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(No Model.)

HHILUIHIHI] Patented Sept. 5, 1899.

W. MCGILLIVRAY.

COTTON CHOPPER.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM MOGILLIVRAY, OF GONZALES, TEXAS.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,470, dated September 5, 1899.

Application filed March 1 7, 1899. Serial No. 709,469. (No model.)

1'0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM McGILLI- VRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gonzales, in the county of Gonzales and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Cotton-Chopper, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cotton-choppers; and the prime object of the invention is to provide improved means for reciprocating the chopping-hoes to bring them simultaneously into operative relation to the row of plants for cutting the surplus stalks, the means for reciprocating the hoes being driven by gearing operated from one of the carrying-wheels of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the hoe-driving bars to vary the angle of the bars in order to make the cutting edges of the hoe-blades operate with a draw or shear cut on the stalks of the cotton-plants.

\Vith these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangements of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cottonchopper constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 8 is' a longitudinal sectional elevation taken through the machine-frame and a part of the means for operating and adjusting the carrying-bars for the cutting-hoes. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the means for adjusting the reciprocating hoe-bars, the plane of section being indicated by the dotted line a 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the hoe-bars, showing the construction for clamping the hoe-blade to the bar. Fig. 6 is a detail cross-section through the rear box or rail of the machine frame, showing the crank-shaft and the means for suspending the same.

The same letters of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying my invention into practice I employ the carrying-frame 10, which is generally rectangular in construction and is mounted on suitable carrying wheels 11. The rear cross bar or rail 12 of the frame is extended beyond the left-hand side of said frame to provide the arm 13, and the rear rail is furthermore provided with a longitudinal slot 13. frame is fitted the upper end of the wheelhanger 14, which is secured firmly to the arm 13 by means of the vertical bolt 15. The hanger 16 for the right-hand wheel 11 is fitted to the rear right-hand corner of the frame, so as to be in alinement with the hanger l i, and the hanger 16' is attached firmly to the frame by a vertical bolt 17. I do not desire to strictly confine myself to the detailed construction of the hangers or the means for attaching the same to the frame, as I am aware that the features may be varied within wide limits by a skilled constructor.

The side rail of the machine-frame at the righthand side thereof is provided with or constructed to form a longitudinal slot 17, in which is arranged a sprocket-wheel 18, forming one of the members of a train of gearing between one of the carrying-wheels 11 and a horizontal shaft, by which the crank-shaft for the reciprocating hoe-bars may be driven. The slot 17 is spanned at a point intermediate its length by a short shaft 19, which is journaled in suitable bearings secured to said slotted rail, and on this shaft are secured the sprocket-wheel 18 and a sprocket-pinion 20. This sprocket-pinion 20 is on an end of the shaft which protrudes beyond the side rail, and it is in alinement with a driving sprocket- To the extended arm of the wheel 21, which is secured to the carryingwheel 11 at the right-hand side of the frame. An endless sprocket-chain 22 is fitted to the driving sprocket-wheel 21 and the sprocketpinion 20, whereby the motion of the wheel 11 is communicated to the short shaft 19.

The rear rail 12 of the frame is provided with depending hangers 23, which are secured firmly in place to be in alinement with each other, and in the lower ends of these hangers are provided the journal-bearings which support the shaft 24. One end of this shaft terminates in the vertical plane of the sprocketwheel 18, and on said end of the shaft is secured a sprocketpinion 25, around which passes a sprocket-chain 26, that is also fitted to the sprocket-wheel 18, thus communicating the motion of the shaft 19 to the shaft 24.

On the extended arm 13 of the carryingframe is mounted a hanger or support 27, which sustains the crank-shaft 28, that serves to operate the pair of carrying-bars 29 30 for the two hoe-blades 31. The support or hanger 27 is shown in the drawings as consisting of a pair of plates 32, joined together by the clamping-bolts 33, which serve to hold the plates in rigid or immovable position on the frame 10. The plates are arranged or fitted against opposite sides of the frame-arm 13, and the bolts are passed through the plates above and below the frame-arm in a manner to hold said plates firmly in position. The hanger depends a suitable distance below the frame to straddle the end of the shaft 24, and in the lower end of this hanger are provided suitable bearings that support the crank shaft 28 at right angles to the shaft 24 contiguous thereto in order that the shafts 24 28 may be connected operatively together through the intermeshing gears 34 35, which are secured, respectively, to the end of the shaft 24 and to the crank-shaft 28. The ends of the shaft 28 protrude beyond the plates or member of the shaft-hanger, and to said protruding ends are secured the crank-arms 36, that are arranged to overlap the hoe-bars 29 30 in order that the arms of the crank-shaft may be connected pivotally to the hoe-bars, as at 37. These hoe-bars are arranged in planes parallel to the shaft 24 on opposite sides of the latter, and both hoe-bars are connected at points intermediate of their length to the arms of the crank-shaft 28. The front ends of the hoe-bars are connected pivotally, as at 39, to the lower ends of the suspensionlinks 40 41, which links are in turn pivoted to opposite ends of a carrying-block 22, that is adjustably fitted to the slotted rail 12 of the carrying-frame. The link-carrying block 2 is provided with a depending guide-stem 43 and with a pivoted bail 44, and said block rests upon a fulcrum-block 45, which sup ports an adjusting-lever 46 and the segment 47. The fulcrum-block is formed or cast in a single piece,with short vertical lugs or posts 48 and with a vertical slot in said block between the lugs or posts 48. The block 42 is arranged loosely between the lugs or posts 48 of the fulcrum-block, and its stem 43 passes through the slot 49 in said fulcrumblock and the slot in the rear rail 12 of the carrying-frame. The adjusting-lever 46 is hung or fulcrumed at a point intermediate its length, as at 50, to one of the lugs or posts 48 on the fulcrum-block, and one end of this lever is arranged to fit in the pivoted bail 44 of the adjustable block 42, to which the suspension-links are pivoted. The segment 47 is secured to or formed integralwith the block 45, and the lower end of the segment is extended below said fulcrum-block, so as to fit in the slot of the rear rail 12 of the machineframe. Through the arm 51, formed by thus extending the segment, and the rear rail 12 is passed a securing-bolt 52, which serves to hold the fulcrum-block 45 in its proper position on the carrying-frame. It will be observed that the hoe-bars are pivotally supported at one end by links which are connected to a separate block 42, and this block is engaged with a lever 46, which is fnlcrumed on another block which is seated on and secured to the frame. The lever may be depressed in order to lift, through the hail, the block 42, and this adjustment of the block imparts a corresponding adjustment to the links, whereby the horizontal position of the hoe-bars may be varied in order to change the angle of presentation of the hoe-blades to the stalks of the cotton-plants, thus making the hoe-blades operate with a draw or shear cut on the stalks. The lever may be raised or lowered in order to give the desired adjustment to the suspension-block-42, which in turn adjusts the links and the hoe-bars, and during such adjustment of the block 42 and the links the stem 43 serves to direct the block and make it assume or retain its proper position transversely across the rail 12 of the frame, thus obviating a torsion strain on the pivots of the suspension-links. The adjusting-lever 46 carries a spring-pressed latch 53, which is connected with a handpiece 54, and said latch engages with the segment to hold the lever, together with the other parts associated therewith, in their adjusted positions.

Each hoe-carrying bar 29 30 is provided with a short slot 55 at the rear end, and in this slot is fitted the shank 56 of a hoe-blade '57. A cuff or strap 58 is secured to the slotted rear end of the bar in a position to span or embrace the blade, and this strap supports an adj usting-screw 59 to hold the blade firmly attached to the bar. I may, however, dispense with the cuff or strap and mount the set-screw 59 in one side of the bar to occupy a position where it will bind against the shank of the hoe-blade.

The two hoe-bars and the blades secured thereto are spaced apart a proper distance by their disposition on opposite sides of the shaft 28, and the blades are thus arranged to act on the stalks in a manner to cut out certain of the stalks from the row and leave the stalks between the blades standing in the row.

A draft-tongue 60 is secured to the frame at the middle of the front cross-rail thereof, and to this draft-tongue may be connected the appliances by which a team of horses may be hitched to the'machine.

When the'machine is drawn through the field, its wheels travel between the rows and the chopper-blades are reciprocated across the row of standing plants. The progress of the machine causes one of the wheels 11 to rotate the sprocket-gearin g by which the shaft 28 is propelled, and this shaft in turn drives the crank-shaft, which operates to rotate the cranks, and thereby give the reciprocating motion to the pivoted suspended bars 29 30, that carry the chopper or hoe blades. These bars and the blades are operated simultaneously to present the blades to the stalks and to draw the blades through stalks with which they may engage, and by spacing the blades apart on the two hoe-bars certain stalks are left standing in the row. The angle of the blades may be varied by adj usting the lever and the suspension-block which supports the links to which the hoe-bars are pivoted, and this adjustment of the hoe-bars may be cffected without disturbing the operative relation of the hoe-bars to the cranks of the crankshaft.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be made by a skilled constructor without departing from the principles or sacrificing the advantages of my invention- Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a crankshaft, parallel bars pivotally mounted at corresponding ends and operatively connected intermediate their ends with said crankshaft to be driven thereby simultaneously in the same direction, each bar carrying a chopping-hoe, and means for driving the crankshaft, for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

In a cotton-chopper, a crank-shaft hav ing two crank-arms projecting in the same direction, a pair of bars connected operatively intermediate their ends with said crank-shaft and spaced in parallel relation to each other, blades carried by said hoes, and links for suspending the bars at corresponding extremities, in combination with a frame on which said parts are mounted, and gearing for operatively connecting the crank-shaft with one of the wheels of said frame, substantially as described.

3. In a cotton-chopper, the combination with a crank-shaft, and hoe-carryingbars connected intermediate their ends with said shaft, of an adjustable suspension device to which the corresponding extremities of said bars are pivotally connected, means for sustaining said suspension device in its adjusted positions, and means for driving the crank-shaft, substantially as described.

a. In a cotton chopper, the combination with a wheeled frame, of a crank-shaft having two crank-arms projecting in the same direction, suspension devices connected with the frame, carrying-bars pivotally connected at corresponding extremities to the suspension devices and also connected intermediate their ends with the crank-shaft and provided with the blades, and gearing for propelling the crank-shaft from a wheel of said frame, substantially as described.

5. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a crank-shaft, carrying-bars connected with said shaft and provided with the blades, a fulcrum-block mounted on the machine-frame and provided with a segment, a suspensionblock fitted adjustably to the fulcrum-block to be guided thereby and having the links to which said bars are pivoted, and a lever fulcrumed on the fulcrum-block and connected with the suspension-block, substantially as described.

6. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a crank-shaft, carrying-bars connected with said shaft and having the blades, a fulcrumblock provided with the segment, a suspension-block loosely fitted to the fulcrum-block and having a stem and a bail, said stem being slidably fitted to the fulcrumblock, links piv oted to the suspension-block and to the carrying-bars, and a lever fulcrumed on the fulcrum-block and engaging with the hail of the suspension-block, substantially as described.

'7. In a cotton chopper, the combination with a wheeled frame,of a short shaft mounted on said frame and geared to one of the wheels, a shaft 24- journaled on the frame and geared to the short shaft, a shaft-hanger, a crankshaft in said hanger and geared to the shaft, 28, suspension devices mounted on the frame, and carrying-bars pivoted to the suspension devices, connected to the crank-shaft, and provided with the blades, substantially as de* scribed.

S. In a cotton-chopper,the carrying-bar provided with a slot at one end extending longitudinally thereof, a blade having a shank fitted in said longitudinal slot, and a binding screw hearing at its inner end against the shank of the blade, substantially as described.

'9. In a cotton-chopper, the combination with a crank-shaft, carrying-bars operatively connected with said shaft and provided with blades, a suspension-block mounted on the frame, pivotal links interposed between said block and carrying-bars, and means for adj usting said suspension-block, substantially as described.

. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM MCGILLIVRAY.

Witnesses:

L. OHENAULT, JAMES MCGILLIVRAY. 

